When the two of them finally got up, it was already noon.
Bai Maomao’s lips were bright red and a bit chapped, while Lang Junxian wore a face full of satisfaction.
Once full, it was time to get down to business.
Bai Maomao, unhappy after eating too many sausages, had to find someone to take his frustration out on.
Lang Junning, who had lain outside all night, was the first target.
Lang Junning had taken a heavy punch from Bai Maomao and was badly injured.
He lay on the ground all night, unable to move.
The moment Bai Maomao stepped outside and saw him, he recalled the harsh conditions he had agreed to and immediately got angry.
He dragged Lang Junning up and beat him again.
Lang Junning lay half-dead on the ground, barely breathing, like a broken rag doll.
Bai Maomao wasn’t satisfied and kicked him once more.
Lang Junxian hugged him from behind, “Don’t be angry. I’ll handle it. You go eat something.”
“…………”
Bai Maomao suddenly lost his appetite.
What could he do?
It was all because of the sausages.
In the end, Bai Maomao didn’t eat anything and went with Lang Junxian to the main house.
Lang Junxian carried the badly beaten Lang Junning toward the main house.
Along the way, many servants saw them and hurried to call for help.
Madam Lang came rushing over upon hearing the news.
Seeing her son’s condition, she immediately burst into tears and threw herself onto him.
“Call a doctor! Hurry and call a doctor!”
The servants swarmed out, eager to find a doctor.
No one wanted to stay and witness the commotion in the household.
Lang Juntian also dropped what he was doing and came running when he heard the news.
Madam Lang went wild as soon as she saw him.
“Is this the good son you brought back? A wild bastard has crawled over us, mother and son! If something happens to Ning Ning, I won’t live either!”
Lang Juntian looked at his son on the ground, surprised by how serious it was.
“What happened exactly?”
“Pfft.”
Bai Maomao scoffed, “I haven’t even told my side of the story, and you’re already accusing me?”
He released the aura of a high-level cultivator, silencing the room instantly.
Lang Juntian was shocked by his power and quickly realized this wasn’t a simple matter.
Bai Maomao squeezed Lang Junxian’s hand, signaling him to stay quiet, then began explaining everything from the start.
After hearing it all, Lang Juntian trembled with anger.
“Scoundrel!”
He stared at the mother and son with murderous eyes.
Madam Lang’s tears hadn’t even dried as she kept shielding her son behind her.
“That’s how it happened. I didn’t kill him on the spot out of respect for Junxian.”
Bai Maomao shrugged.
“This is my youngest son’s fault. Mr. Bai’s punishment is well-deserved,” Lang Juntian gritted his teeth and cleaned up the mess for his son, his face dark as night.
Bai Maomao arrogantly lifted his chin, “For Junxian’s sake, I’ll let him off this time…”
Madam Lang brightened, but Bai Maomao continued, “Don’t let me see him again. Otherwise, next time it won’t end like this.”
Lang Juntian smiled on the surface but his eyes were cold.
“Rest assured, Mr. Bai, I’ll send the scoundrel into seclusion.”
Madam Lang wanted to argue but was silenced by Lang Juntian’s icy glare.
She covered her face, tears leaking through her fingers.
Deep down, she knew this time Lang Junning really wouldn’t escape.
The servants quickly brought a doctor and transferred the unconscious Lang Junning elsewhere.
Later, Lang Junqi stood dumbfounded at the door, his expression shifting several times before finally lowering his eyes and hiding his emotions as he supported the slumped Madam Lang and left.
The whole farce ended just like that.
After Lang Junning recovered, he was forced into strict seclusion.
Madam Lang wept day and night.
Although Lang Junqi was still fine, Lang Juntian’s attitude toward him had noticeably worsened.
Word got out, and people outside began showing favor to Lang Junxian.
The Lang family only had three children this generation: Lang Junning was useless, Lang Junqi had lost favor, and the last one left was Lang Junxian.
Rumors swirled that the position of family head would fall to Lang Junxian.
No matter the outside gossip, Bai Maomao and Lang Junxian continued their leisurely two-person world.
Since Bai Maomao had lost his temper last time, the Lang family treated him with even greater respect, and their待遇 (treatment) had risen a level.
The weather grew colder and colder.
The biting cold wind seemed capable of freezing one’s bones.
Bai Maomao couldn’t stand the cold and decided not to leave the house, staying all day in a heated room.
Inside the warm room, Bai Maomao wore a thin nightgown, barefoot, pacing on the carpet, his cheeks flushed from the warmth.
He held a wooden box, flipping it over and over.
“Who do you think sent this?”
“Open it and you’ll know.”
Lang Junxian replied helplessly, opening the box to see what was inside.
“But this is for you.”
“What’s mine is yours,” Lang Junxian said, ignoring him.
“Open it.”
Bai Maomao pouted and opened the box.
Inside lay a red tail feather, a vibrant red like flowing flames.
The end of the feather looked like an eye, with golden patterns encircling it.
“This is a Phoenix Feather?”
Bai Maomao exclaimed.
Lang Junxian was equally surprised, not expecting this inside the box.
“Who sent it?”
“No idea,” Bai Maomao shook his head.
“The Butler said the sender didn’t give a name and left quickly.”
“Call the Butler over to ask.”
The Butler soon arrived.
An ordinary man, he was nervous facing the pressure of two high-level cultivators summoned by Lang Junxian.
“Second Young Master, Master Bai, any orders?”
Lang Junxian studied the Butler’s expression carefully.
“Who sent the wooden box?”
“It was a young man, said he was your friend.”
The Butler relaxed upon hearing the question and told everything.
The man delivering the box was young, looked no older than thirty, dressed in black, and didn’t seem like an ordinary person.
What exactly he looked like, the Butler tried hard to recall but suddenly realized he couldn’t remember at all.
Cold sweat broke out on the Butler’s forehead.
“Please forgive me, Young Master. I…I can’t remember his face.”
Lang Junxian and Bai Maomao exchanged a glance but said nothing, letting the terrified Butler leave first.
“Who do you think that person is?”
“Hard to say,” Lang Junxian shook his head.
“Remember the black phoenix we saw on the mountain?”
“And the Huangquan Bamboo Sea incident,” Bai Maomao added.
“Now this Phoenix Feather appears. Could it be related to the Shanggu Yaowang?”
Lang Junxian fell silent.
The Yao King’s soul had long since dissipated, no longer in this world.
So were their sightings of the Phoenix Apparition coincidence or something deliberate?
And this Phoenix Feather—was it meant for me…or for Bai Maomao?
One mystery after another, yet they had too few clues.
Maybe they could ask Mother.
Meanwhile, Lang Junqi met a man in black at a tavern.
The man was young and wore a friendly smile.
Lang Junqi had been somewhat neglected by his father recently.
Lang Junxian had taken over most of the family affairs.
Though Lang Juntian hadn’t officially announced his heir, it was clear to everyone that the likely choice was Lang Junxian.
For decades, Lang Junqi had been groomed as the heir.
He managed the family’s affairs capably, though his talent was nothing exceptional.
He studied management in university, and under his watch, the Lang family never made big mistakes.
His life had been smooth sailing until Lang Junxian’s return, who immediately took everything from him.
Gritting his teeth, Lang Junqi smashed his wine cup on the ground.
If only his cultivation had improved, he wouldn’t have fallen to this point!
But now, it was useless to complain…
Lang Junqi leaned back in his chair, exhausted.
“Second Young Master Lang, why waste your time feeling sorry for yourself?”
The room was quiet.
Lang Junqi had deliberately dismissed his bodyguards to be alone, but now someone had suddenly appeared.
“Who are you?”
Lang Junqi eyed him warily.
The man in black smirked, “Who I am isn’t important. What matters is that I can help you.”
“Help me?”
Lang Junqi was skeptical, eyes full of ridicule.
“How do you intend to help me?”
The man pulled a small porcelain bottle from his pocket and placed it on the table.
“Take this, and you’ll ascend to the Rebirth Realm.”
Lang Junqi’s eyes widened involuntarily as he stepped forward but said, “Why should I trust you?”
“Believe it or not, Young Master Lang, just try it and you’ll know.”
The man pushed the little bottle toward him, his smile filled with temptation.
“What’s your price?”
Lang Junqi stared intently at the bottle, his hands clenched tightly.
“Just a small favor from you.”
The man uncapped the bottle, releasing a strong aroma of Dan Medicine.
“Want to try?”
Lang Junqi hesitated and didn’t reach for it.
The man smiled, capped the bottle, and put it back into his pocket.
“Looks like you need time to think. I’ll leave this Dan Medicine as a gift. Three days from now, I’ll be waiting for your answer.”